The BBC's Jim Fish"K-For deny that the border was crossed" real 56kThe BBC's Nicholas Wood in Skopje"The group has been trapped since fighting first erupted" real 28k

Friday, 9 March, 2001, 16:22 GMT

Macedonian convoy escapes ambush

Nato may consider deploying troops on the border

A Macedonian Government convoy trapped for hours under rebel fire has escaped its attackers and is returning to the capital, Skopje.

Thirty people, including a senior general and Deputy Interior Minister Refet Elmazi, were stranded after coming under attack on Thursday evening from suspected Albanian rebels near the Macedonian villages of Brest and Malino.